Regarding Community Prayer Life
What the participants liked:
Sponsoring by provinces was good, enriching, fostered fraternal communion, variety (21)
The well-prepared homilies (6) coming from faith experience; good sharing of Fr Tamayo during the homily
Having common prayer/song books (5); they were a big help
The prayer life that was simple (4) yet devout, meaningful and not heavy, well-prepared services
Singing of Latin songs (3)
Having good variation in songs - by language (2)
The songs and responses were done well (2), inspiring songs during the liturgy
Excellent (2), outstanding, creative (3) and profound, well-prepared, liturgy was well animated
Evening services were more meditative
Masss and singing are good experience of universality - with the use of one’s language in the prayers
Ambience of prayer helped
Good participation and a very much alive liturgy ; also very salesian
Commmorating the Salesian saints
Experiencing the Taize prayer
Singing of the psalms
Where there could be an improvement:
Time for common adoration - at least once or even twice during the seminar (6)
Praying the rosary in common (4), in different languages
Briefing the different provinces before arrival so that they are already prepared to render these services (3)
Improving more the Province’s in-charge in the animation of the Vespers (3)
injecting culture variation in liturgy - use of cultural symbols, interpreting the Word with cultural reference (2)
Adding the usual thirty-minute meditation to the schedule (2), if possible before the Blessed Sacrament
Singing should be more well-organized
Having one coordinator and animator for the various groups in charge of the daily liturgy
Having a variety of prayer experiences
Having a session of bible sharing by provinces
Celebrating solemn vespers once or twice during the entire seminar
Celebrating the Mass in different languages as well
Include a time like a half-day for the communal celebration of the Sacramernt of Reconciliation
Not to sing in latin
Having celebrated a liturgy with the students
Having more time for silent prayer like benediction and taize prayer
Giving opportunity for individual practices of piety
Establishing beforehand the use of formulae like Our Father and Glory be
Letting lauds and vespers to be led by mobile team to allow participants to experience best ways to animate community recitation of iturgy of the hours
Putting more creativity and variation in the animation of Vespers
Having more singing of lauds and vespers
Experiencing the lectio divina
Regarding the Seminar Focus
What the participants liked:
Reading the Bible in Don Bosco’s eyes and how it is applicable in our times (4)
DB’s Gospel Way gave us a deep insight into Don Bosco’s rootedness in the Scriptures
Gospel Way reflections gave very good insights, very helpful, enlightening and nourishing,
Gospel reflections were excellent; well thought to have the biblical perspective on salesianity
Gospel Way was of great impact for me - a new reflection for me; very salesian in approach
Gospel Way convinced me to do my duties like Don Bosco who learned and followed God’s Word
DB Superior (3) gave me a proper perspective of my role as a rector; practical insights
Theme on Family Spirit; Don Bosco as teacher
Friendly talk and spiritual direction (3) - good tips, encouraging approach
Friendly Talk and Spiritual Direction enlightened me about their distinction and importance
Clarification between spiritual direction and rendiconto
Discovery of Don Bosco’s insistence on rendiconto;
Spiritual direction as helping see God in one’s life
Sharing of our experiences as rectors (2) enlgihtening and consoling, useful, edifying
The topics and persons directly involved were very well-prepared (2);
Subject matter was creatively shared
Speakers gained the trust and confidence of the participants - they know their subject matter well
Topics chosen were very relevant (6), very appropriate and timely, really needed
Balanced inputs: skills and theory
Very rich materials for animating well the communities;
Practical means that the speakers said; very substantial materials
Reflections going back to the ABCs of our Salesian Tradition
Good order: word of God, Don Bosco and SDB sources, personal reflection time
Providing hard copies (2); recommendable to have book and colored booklets: to listen and follow
Parallel process is very recommendable
Scheme on Personal Plan and Community Plan can help a lot
Where there could be an improvement:
Reviewing Don Bosco’s spirit through the sharing of the good experiences of the Salesians
Introducing the contribution of a rector as a good example
Experiential sharing on rendiconto as well (3); also on Don Bosco Superior
Aside from sharings and reporting, more time given for the participants to react to the topic (2)
Any theme or topic need to have some practicum (3) like what was done on Spiritual Direction
Role-playing like that of Spiritual Direction need be noted and given ample time in the schedule
Topics on Rector’s Conferences - a kind of listing and insights on them
Salesian spiritual animation:
Deeper clarification or better, hands-on workshop on spiritual direction/animation
Deeper clarification also the so-called classical Ignatian spiritual direction
More on Salesian themes (5): spirituality, preventive system, community life, spirit and Family (2)
More scrptural reflections and approaches on Don Bosco’s way (3)
Theme on financial administration, management skills; Theme on Inculturation
Topic on Blessed Mother; consecrated life; psychology and documents of the Church
Less patronizing, generalizing tone in communicating the content which is already very rich
Recommendable to have one theme in a day from different points of view
Include the making and evaluation of the SEPP
Ongoing formation of rectors not necessarily 10 days due to long absence from the community
Giving rectors basic documents
Giving more time for reflection and integration
Using the powerpoint
Giving opportunity to buy Salesianity books and materials
Regarding the Integration Session
What the participants liked:
Happy to have been provided this time (3); good idea to have this period (8)
Opportunity for the Sacrament of Reconciliation (7) spiritual direction (5) one-on-one talk (2)
Opportunity to go deeper on the materials given (4); a very important moment
Allowing time to relax and gives space for confrere’s individual needs (2)
Opportunity to share with members of other provinces (2); Good moments of group encounters
Good time for conversion
Time to digest thoroughly the three sessions; Readings and time to read them
Time was enough
Clever way to make us read Rector’s Manual by dividing it into small booklets
Useful materials for communities
Excellent DVD documentation of the entire seminar
Where there could be an improvement:
Better to have the documents bound (4)
Hard to read all documents; good if there are summaries; too much to read
Same formatting for presenting documents
More information on Pastoral ministry of other provinces
Provide more documents of our congregation
The day could begin with presentation of the highlights of the previous day
Include a day of recollection
Correct the misspellings; english text is already difficult for us, all the more if misspelled
Put the documents online
Folders on salesian books, studies, formation themes and something scriptural
Need of a secretariat
Regarding the Fraternal Life
What the participants liked:
I like all the above (6)
Introduction of each other is very ok (6) and has personal touch; Great way of introducing, creative
Gradual intriduction of all participants is good (5); produced excitement and heightened expectations
Good fraternal life: moments to cultivate friendships, be relaxed and be curious about other provinces
A very good family spirit experience (2) - a feeling of being at home; overall experience of joy and optimism; Friendly atmosphere - brought a sense of Region; value and beauty of community life were enhanced;
I felt encouraged to be faithful in my salesian vocation
I had a 100% identification of the participants
The games released tension and fostered brotherhood (6); entertaining yet not that strenuous; adapted to age
Games was a source of unity and involvement; everybody joined - old and young (2)
Outing was educative (4) and entertaining; it was terrific (5), superb, fantastic
Goodnights were very enriching (7)
The exhibits they widened our perspective of the Congregation and mission (2)
The Thai Province was an excellent host(4)
Appreciated the variety of cultures
Good example from Vietnam regarding Province video presentation
Clear names on the tables were helpful to know the names of confreres
Where there could be an improvement:
More interaction between provinces (5); group dynamics
More light moments together - having card games (3)
Outing preferably nearer (2); less tiring (2)
There could have been two half day outings (2)
Better if participants were well-oriented on what to present for the exhibits;
Need to be more organized on the exhibits and the presentation of exhibits more expanded
Exhibits were a bit useless - could just be one typical apostolate of the Province
Better time-control on goodnights
Goodnight talk could also have been given by a Sister, seminarian
Some moment for the sharing between rectors with similar apostolates: parish, school, etc
Balance of time between sharing by provinces and sharing among provinces
Each confrere should have made special effort to know the rest
Need to remind participants to have name tags visible
Need for some follow-up on getting to know after the introductions
More activities in order to know each other
Focus on the belonging to the EAO Region
Need to have been in touch with the Thai Church